Congratulations!

 

 

You open your email, and the subject line immediately catches your attention.  Congratulations!  As you read the email you see the following: You have been chosen to receive our grant-in-aid. You think, yea, today is a great day. 

Many DKG members worldwide are fortunate to experience this scenario due to the variety of grants-in-aid provided by state organizations and chapters.  Some also go by the name of enhancements, stipends, or visionary funds.  The source of these funds varies.  Some are endowments that have been made to the state organization, while some are funds designated as memorials or trusts.  Some are short term with funds gathered for a specific purpose. 

DKG members use these grants-in-aid for personal and professional growth in many ways.  Most are individual, but some are for chapter use.  These are just a few of the many uses:

• Attendance to DKG sponsored conferences or conventions   
  
• Classroom books/supplies
• Leadership grants for attendance at a conference outside of DKG
• Travel
• Projects for individual or chapters use

An application is completed according to the specifics outlined in that application.  A letter of recommendation may be necessary from a principal or a chapter president.  The application may ask how the funds will be used to benefit the applicant or the benefit to others.  Is the grant-in-aid creative, original, or unique? Some grants require a written report or evaluation.  Many grant awardees present a workshop on their use of the funds at a state organization convention.  Each state organization has their own method for applying, assessing, and reporting.  It is worth the time to check out what is available. 

Some state organizations offer a grant-in-aid to a member for first-time attendance to an international convention.  Those who have attended an international convention confirm the many positive benefits that result from participation at the international level – deeper knowledge of the Society, bonds formed with members from around the world, learning from excellent speakers and workshops.  Grants-in-aid provide access to a member who otherwise may never have this opportunity. 

Chapters and state organizations may also want to consider offering grants-in-aid to non DKG members to attract future members.  This is especially true of early-career educators.  New educators need an abundance of supplies and materials for their classrooms and funds from DKG may be the impetus needed to interest them in joining the Society.

The following comments were made by early career educators who received a $250 grant-in-aid for their classrooms. 

"I utilized that money to get my classroom a good set of beakers and graduated cylinders. This was so my students would have a visual and hands-on activity when comparing volumes and measurements. We also utilize them for measuring liquids in different science experiments like when we created volcanoes and studied erosion."

"My second-grade class and myself are so appreciative of the donation made. I used the donation to purchase high interest books for my classroom library. Students have the opportunity to use these books every day. They help foster the love of reading and satisfy their inquisitive minds. We are so thankful!"

Have a project in mind, or a conference that you have a desire to attend?  If so, check out what funding sources may be available in your chapter or state organization.  You may be next to open the email with Congratulations!  You have been chosen to receive our grant-in-aid!